O sweet were the hours

O sweet were the hours
When in mirth's frolic throng
I led up the revels
With dance and with song;
When brisk from the fountain
And bright as the day,
My spirits o'erflow'd
And ran sparkling away!

Wine! Wine! Wine!
Come bring me wine to cheer me,
Friend of my heart!
Come pledge me high!
Wine! Till the dreams of youth
Again are near me,
Why must they leave me,
Tell me, why?

Return, ye sweet hours!
Once again let me see
Your airly light forms
Of enchantment and glee;
Come, give an old friend,
While he crowns his gay glass,
A nod as you part
And a smile as you pass

I cannot forget you,
I would not resign,
There's health in my pulse,
And a spell in my wine;
And sunshine in Autumn,
Tho' passing too soon,
Is sweeter and dearer
Than sunshine in June.

Translation(s): FRE GER ITA

List of language codes

Submitted by Ferdinando Albeggiani

Authorship

• by William Smyth (1765 - 1849), "O sweet were the hours" [ author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

• by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "O sweet were the hours", op. 108 (25 schottische Lieder mit Begleitung von Pianoforte, Violine und Violoncello) no. 3 (1815). [voice, violin, violoncello, piano] [ sung text verified 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

• GER German (Deutsch) (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist) , title 1: "O köstliche Zeit"
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , title 1: "Belli erano i momenti", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• FRE French (Français) (Daphné van Raemdonck) , title 1: "Oh, douces furent les heures", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Text added to the website: 2004-08-03.
Last modified: 2017-03-30 20:59:23
Line count: 32
Word count: 147

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